Measurement and Numerical Prediction of Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics' Thermal Conductivity in Injection Molded Parts

Recent improvements in injection molding numerical simulation software have led to the possibility of computing fiber orientation in fiber reinforced materials during and at the end of the injection molding process. However, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of fiber reinforced materials are still largely measured experimentally. While theoretical models that consider fiber orientation for the prediction of those properties exist, estimating them numerically has not yet been practical. In the present study, two different models are used to estimate the thermal conductivity of fiber reinforced thermoplastics (FRT) using fiber orientation obtained by injection molding numerical simulation software. Experimental data were obtained by measuring fiber orientation in injection molded samples' micrographs by image processing methods. The results were then compared with the numerically obtained prediction and good agreement between numerical and experimental fiber orientation was found. Thermal conductivity for the same samples was computed by applying two different FRT thermal conductivity models using numerically obtained fiber orientation. In the case of thermal conductivity, predicted results were consistent with experimental data measurements, showing the validity of the models. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.